New dog grooming shop taps into pet owner spending

Friday

May 10, 2013 at 9:50 AM

Americans may be closely budgeting their spending, but they aren't skimping much when it comes to their pets.

By Claire ParkerBreakingnews@StarNewsOnline.com

Americans may be closely budgeting their spending, but they aren't skimping much when it comes to their pets.According to recent market studies, all roads to the pet industry seemed to be paved with greenbacks – and starting a pet-related business is topping many hot startup lists.And that's one reason why one local businessman decided to open a new pet grooming and bakery shop near Wrightsville Beach.Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is scheduled to open this weekend in the former Mindy & Angie's Fine Paper location in Lumina Commons shopping center on Eastwood Road. Owner Erskine Smith said the franchise is a perfect fit for Wilmington."With the number of dog owners and the level of involvement people have here with dog rescues and pet activities, I felt that Wilmington needed this kind of upscale pet store," he said.The store aims for a luxurious feel with reasonable prices on everything from full-service grooming to all-natural treats baked in-house.It's the kind of pooch pampering that many Americans have become accustomed to charging to their checking accounts.The American Pet Product Association estimates pet owners will spend more than $55 billion on their animals this year. That could surpass the all-time high of $53 billion spent last year, which was about a 5 percent jump from the year before. Figures from the association estimate that the average dog owner spent $1,542 in 2011 and the average cat owner spent $1,183 that same year.And where is most of that money going? Food."If you have concerns about what is in the food you are giving to your animal, you will spend extra money instead of getting something off the shelf," said Alan Murphy, co-owner of My Porch Dawg, a Wilmington-based pet bakery.He said pet food recalls and rising rates of animal sickness, such as the recent pulling of pet foods off the shelves because of salmonella contamination, have pet owners taking precautions and willingly paying more to keep their animals safe. "It's one of the reasons I got into the pet treat bakery business," Murphy said. "There are so many harmful ingredients out there."Emotional bondBut what makes Americans spend more on Fido this year than coffee or bottled water combined? Smith said the emotional tie to our pets could be one reason and another could be cultural."Honestly, pets are not people. They always give you unconditional love," he said. "And we are fortunate to be in such an affluent country that we have the ability to treat our pets in a way that is not really seen elsewhere in the world."And folks seem to be throwing down some serious cash not only on organic treats and frilly hair cuts, but also luxuries such as doggie playdates.The business magazine Inc.estimated that pet owners would be willing to fork over so much money that last year it listed the pet industry as one of the best to start a business.Those findings partly led Trudy Rinker last year to start The Dog House, her dog day care and boarding company off Carolina Beach Road."People love their pets, but everyone is busy," she said. "Since the (economic) downturn people have taken second jobs but they still find value in our services because they don't have extra time or energy. I think this is spending that tugs at the heart strings."And it could show a shift to pet owners spending more of their money with small business instead of big-box pet stores."It comes down to two words – personal service," Smith said."People are tending to be a little more focused on local shops and local vendors and in this economy in helping local retailers." And that has not only business owners, but many dogs and cats sitting pretty these days.